What's New: The new IS boasts swoopier lines and a curvilinear spindle grille that ties this model to Lexus's current sharp-edged look. It's also longer, taller, and wider. Most notably, the wheelbase expands by 2.7 inches to boost interior volume to 90 cubic feet and make rear legroom considerably more livable.

Lexus credits the flagship LFA with some of the jauntier design cues, but the flashiest hand-me-down from that half-million-dollar supercar is the tachometer, which slides front and center in the instrument panel when the driver selects the more aggressive S+ model. A high-tensile-strength-steel-and-aluminum body helps the IS shed 22 pounds, and the interior benefits from improved sound insulation. The retuned suspension and chassis deliver greater body control and more steering feel, allowing the Lexus to more readily battle its driver-oriented competitors.

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Tech Tidbit: The Lexus IS's aerodynamic drag coefficient of .28 isn't particularly special (and climbs to .29 with all-wheel drive). But one aero feature that enhances driving dynamics: aero stabilizer fins at the A-pillar and taillamps that allow vortices of airflow to accelerate alongside the IS's body at speeds above 25 mph, reducing noise and vibration while increasing stability. Underbody panels equipped with vortex-generating fins reduce lift, keeping the IS hunkered down at speed.

Driving Character: Behind the wheel, it's easy to focus on the cabin's plentiful smooth-touch surfaces and purposeful ergonomics, especially because the new sedan's tactile slickness is echoed in a Teflon-like driving experience. Despite Lexus's insistence that the IS is a more involving car, there's still some numbness when it comes to road feel and feedback—or maybe it's just traditional Lexus-like luxuriousness creeping in.

Still, that didn't stop us from enjoying hot laps at the Austin Driveway racetrack, where the IS350 F-Sport's excellent body control helped it make surprisingly high-speed runs despite its middle-of-the-road 306-hp engine output. We'd prefer more responsiveness when tapping the eight-speed's wheel-mounted paddle shifters, but once you get used to the lag, there's plenty to like about how this luxury sedan behaves during track sorties. Yes, the brakes end up feeling stressed after a couple of laps (typical of most road cars), and the stability control is a bit too intrusive even in its most permissive settings. But in the matrix of smooth-riding comfort and all-out performance driving, the new IS350 holds its own.

A street drive in the IS250 revealed less authoritative acceleration from the smaller V-6, and its six-speed transmission had a tendency to hunt for gears, unlike the more decisive eight-speed unit found in the bigger-engined model. But at least the IS250 doesn't ride with ES-like softness on the road, thanks to steering and suspension tuning that helps it feel glued-down and responsive.

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Favorite Detail: Although some manufacturers aim for performance at the cost of comfort, Lexus consistently delivers an impressively refined driving experience that's usable over the long haul. The new IS manages to maintain those silky-smooth road manners without completely removing driver involvement.

Driver's Grievance: Lexus says it made the new IS "more fun to drive," but even in its most aggressive setting, the IS-F derived eight-speed gearbox shifts with buttery seamlessness, not with crisp urgency. And unlike the outgoing IS, the new model won't let you approach redline in manual mode without automatically upshifting, removing a sense of ultimate control from the driving dynamic.

Bottom Line: By refreshing the IS with crisp styling and a more spacious and refined interior, Lexus has broadened the appeal of its entry sedan and made it a stronger contender against household names such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. And while Lexus imbued the IS with more tenacious handling and sharper dynamics, it's still smooth enough to uphold that famous Lexus image.

Whether or not the new IS holds your interest depends on what sort of driver you are; those looking for a razor's-edge experience may want to look elsewhere, but shoppers with a historical attraction to Lexus's refined dynamics will find plenty to love here.

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